Medical Education Junior Oncology Fellow

Job summary

This post is for 40 hours per week 50% Undergraduate Medical Education and 50% Clinical Medicine.

The role of the undergraduate education side of the post is to develop, coordinate and deliver medical student education within the trust. Clinically the postholder will provide medical care of patients across various inpatient wards and the Acute Assessment Unit (AAU) within Combined Oncology.

Main duties of the job

Role Purpose

Medicine

The role is accountable to the Divisional Clinical Director. Close working links include consultants; senior clinicians; critical care outreach and ward staff. Participation in the primary medical care of patients admitted to the Christie Hospital.

The admission, assessment and management of patients along with all assessment of on-going care needs including arranging routine and special investigations. There will be opportunities for trainees to attend outpatient clinics, radiotherapy planning clinics, and multi-disciplinary team meetings.

The Trust has an Acute Assessment Unit (AAU) which serves as entry point for non-elective admissions for unwell Christie patients. During working hours there is on site Acute Medicine Consultant support available (full time). The successful appointees will rotate through the AAU during their tenure at the Trust.

The junior doctor accepts that he/she will also perform duties in occasional emergencies and unforeseen circumstances at the request of the appropriate Consultant, in consultation where practicable with his/her colleagues both senior and junior. It has been agreed between the professions and the department that while juniors accept that they will perform such duties, the Secretary of State stresses that additional commitments arising under this sub-section are exceptional and that juniors should not be required to undertake work of this kind for prolonged periods or on a regular basis.

About us

The Christie is one of Europe's leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country. We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.

Job description

Job responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Approximately 5 sessions per week will be devoted to clinical work

This will offer experience in the whole spectrum of cancer management, from radical treatment to palliative care and from outpatient based ambulatory management to inpatient intensive high dose regimes.

The Education Fellow will gain experience in the management of a range of malignancies and will work with a number of oncology teams gaining experience of both medical and clinical oncology. Each fellow will be supported by a team of consultants, registrars and specialist nurses with them aim of gaining experience of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and palliative care. The attachment will allow the JOF to develop an understanding of and experience in the general principles behind non-surgical cancer treatments. They will be taught the aims, principles of decision-making, benefits, and potential toxicity of cancer management. They will have the opportunity to gain skills in communication, breaking bad news, symptom control and the assessment and treatment of oncological emergencies. In addition, they will learn about principles and practice of clinical governance, the application of evidence -based medicine, the logistics behind entering and treating patients within a clinical trial and the socio-cultural aspects of cancer care.

Approximately 5 sessions a week will be spent with Undergraduate Education

The Education Fellow will spend this time teaching (or preparing educational activities) for medical students, predominantly Years 3 and 5 (General Medicine and Acutely Ill) but you may be asked to assist with Year 4 (oncology) and Y5 (General Surgery) on an occasional basis.

There will be a wide range of opportunities for the appointed person to teach general, with it being anticipated that the individual will have a particular role in providing supplementary teaching to students in their 3rd or 5th Year undergoing their General Medicine or Acutely Ill, attachments and enabling students to find patients with relevant problems to clerk. The individual will deliver clinical examination teaching to medical students in training within clinical areas of the Trust and, as required, in the clinical skills unit.

They may be asked to deliver themed case discussion sessions and prepare and deliver sessions on various topics, in conjunction with the supervising consultants and junior doctor colleagues on the wards.

Research and Audit

Postholders will be encouraged to undertake a piece of audit/research during their tenure. Similarly, they will be encouraged to engage in in-house clinical governance projects to improve patient management/experience and/or optimize patient pathways. Opportunities will be available from both the Medical and Undergraduate Education teams.

Education and Training

Postholders will have an allocated educational supervisor. Individual appraisal will be carried in conjunction with the educational supervisor. Mentorship opportunities and career guidance will also be available. The aim would be for the post holders to sufficiently improve their portfolios enabling them to compete nationally for medical/ clinical oncology or palliative medicine specialty rotations. The experience can also be useful for those wishing to pursue GP training schemes / non oncology hospital specialties.

There is a weekly teaching session which the JOFs will be expected to attend and input to on a regular basis. There is also a weekly feedback session with senior medical staff to discuss clinical issues. JOFs will also be encouraged to attend various educational lectures, meeting, and seminars.

There is an excellent medical library with good information technology facilities on site.

JOFs will be able to apply for leave and funding for approved courses of study

(including attendance at examinations).

It is expected that the fellow may wish to obtain educational qualifications of an appropriate level in the field of medical education eg Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) in Medical Education. Christie Education will provide funding for the successful candidate.

These posts are ideal for applicants who have completed two years general professional training, with an interest in pursuing a career in Oncology or a related field.

Please note that these posts are not recognised for training.

Continuing Professional Development

The Trust supports the requirements for continuing professional development (CPD) as laid down by the GMC and surgical colleges and is committed to providing time and financial support for these activities.

It is expected that the fellow may wish to obtain educational qualifications of an appropriate level in the field of medical education eg Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) in Medical Education. Support will be considered to the successful candidate.

Arrangements to visit the hospital may be made directly with: Dr Lubna Bhatt

Continuing Professional Development

The Trust supports the requirements for continuing professional development (CPD) as laid down by the GMC and surgical colleges and is committed to providing time and financial support for these activities.

Role Planning

The role involves working as part of a team-based model liaising with disease group specific clinician teams.

Typically the role will include working Monday Friday (9-5pm) and will not include on-call commitments. For those candidates wishing to gain out of hours experience, this can be arranged.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential for the post

Desirable for the post

METHOD OF ASSESSMENT

Essential for the post

Desirable for the post

METHOD OF ASSESSMENT*

1. ATTAINMENTS

Educational

Basic Medical Qualification

Postgraduate qualification in Medical Education

CE

Qualifications

ALS

MRCP Part 1

CE

Professional Qualifications

GMC registration and licensed to practice

CE

Research / Publications

Demonstration of aptitude for carrying out research

AF

2. TRAINING

Evidence of attainment of Foundation competencies.

CE

3. EXPERIENCE

Job Specific

2 years postgraduate experience

Previous NHS Experience

AF

4. Management / Audit

Demonstrates understanding of the importance of audit and research

Evidence of active participation in audit

AF

TEACHING

Demonstrates involvement in education of others

Prior experience in Medical Education

AF

5. PERSONAL SKILLS

Acceptability

Good communication skills (written and verbal)

I, R

Leadership

Good interpersonal skills

I, R

Self- reliance

To recognise personal limitations but to work competently within these boundaries

I, R

Motivation

Capacity to work under pressure, and manage/prioritise time and information effectively

Evidence of career progression consistent with personal circumstances

Membership of appropriate professional society/societies, knowledge of up-to-date literature

I, R

Abbreviations for Methods of Assessment:

AF Application Form

I Interview

R References

CE Certification Evidence

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Basic Medical Qualification GMC registration and licensed to practice

Desirable

Postgraduate qualification in Medical Education MRCP Part 1 ALS Demonstration of aptitude for carrying out research

TRAINING

Essential

Evidence of attainment of Foundation competencies.

Experience

Essential

2 years postgraduate experience Demonstrates understanding of the importance of audit and research Demonstrates involvement in education of others

Desirable

Previous NHS Experience Evidence of active participation in audit Prior experience in Medical Education

PERSONAL SKILLS

Essential

Good communication skills (written and verbal) Good interpersonal skills To recognise personal limitations but to work competently within these boundaries Capacity to work under pressure, and manage/prioritise time and information effectively Evidence of career progression consistent with personal circumstances

Desirable

Membership of appropriate professional society/societies, knowledge of up-to-date literature

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